Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

Prime Minister David Lloyd George speech about Treaty of Versailles.

Good Essays
578 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Prime Minister David Lloyd George speech about Treaty of Versailles.
I stand here today as proud leader of this country to tell you of a great victory, we have at last come to an agreement on the set out in the treaty of Versailles. Our men and women have fought hard to defend this country against the likes of Germany and I felt it was extremely important to ensure that these conditions in the treaty honoured those people, especially those who gave their lives. Germany has been punished! But I have also had to protect you and your children from what Germany could do in the future. You must appreciate how difficult it was to set out these conditions.

All of you know that Germany was to blame for this war and I have made sure that they know it too, hence their acceptance of guilt. So many of you have suffered from Germany 's actions and to recover from this Germany is paying compensation of £6,600 million so that Britain can become a greater Britain than ever before. This reparation will help to rebuild buildings, and may go someway to alleviate the suffering of those left behind.

Of course we want to punish Germany but we don 't want a vendetta where Germany will seek revenge in the form of another war. We have tried to prevent this by taking Germany 's overseas empire. These former colonies are now mandates controlled by the League of Nations. Germany has also been forbidden from uniting with Austria ever again. All these conditions will hopefully prevent Germany from becoming too great a threat to Britain in the future.

We have also downsized the German Army and decided that just 100 thousand men is all they are allowed, and only if fellow countrymen voluntarily join up. They 're not allowed any armed vehicles so no submarines, tanks, aircraft and only six battleships. Many of you may be familiar with an area called the Rhineland, this is the bordering land between France and Germany; well this is now a demilitarised zone, no German forces are allowed in this area which is big enough to be a country in itself.

Earlier I talked of a committee called the League of Nations. You could say it is like an international 'police force ' and will protect the world from war. Germany is not allowed to join this force until it has proved it is a peace loving country.

We have to be careful with the treaty as Germany is still a major trading partner of ours and we do not want to lose this partnership however bad it sounds, many of your jobs rely on this link and the goods that we sell and buy are from them.

I think I can speak for all of us when I say we have got the better half of the treaty, you must value that although I would like nothing more than to have brought Germany to its knees, my hands are tied by the fact that we still need to communicate with Germany both for trading purposes and also with their cooperation and acceptance in the treaty conditions, we have therefore had to make compromises in order to ensure Germany don 't start another war.

No amount of punishment or revenge on Germany will bring our loved ones back to us; we can only hope that this treaty goes someway in preventing any further unrest.

God Save Our King

Bibliography:

History Teacher- Mrs Dawson- Notes which built up into essay- ALOT OF HELP

Wikipedia- Brief summary of Treaty of Versailles- LITTLE HELP

Bibliography: History Teacher- Mrs Dawson- Notes which built up into essay- ALOT OF HELP Wikipedia- Brief summary of Treaty of Versailles- LITTLE HELP

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In Ponicaré’s speech welcoming delegates to the conerence, the French president claims that the Versailles Conference does not just represent governments, but also free people. The French people are a “homogenous block” that cannot be divided. By presenting this idea of unanimity, Ponicaré illustrates that the French are already following the “necessary unity under the standard of the lofty moral and political truths” that Wilson is proclaiming. This allows him to state his next case of justice while…

    • 544 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Solitary approach in Versailles Treaty treated Germany harshly was economic reparation. Germany had to pay reparation because they were required to pay the damages they caused after World War I. Germany started to pay in 1921 their first amount of reparation was 132 billion gold marks but in US dollars was $367 billion (Doc C). Germany had to pay $367 billion dollars to be paid over 30 years (Doc C. But in 1929 the reparation was reduced to 112 billion gold marks in US dollars are $341 billion. This reparation or payment was decided by Inter-Allied Commissions. If Germany had stop, forget to pay, or fail to meet her obligations their punishment was determined by allied and Associated Government (Doc C). Later on in 1933 Germany had stop paying because of Adolf Hitler when he came to a ruler. Economic reparation helped caused World War II because after Hitler was no longer a leader Germany continued to pay the reparation and to end finished their payment 20 years.…

    • 677 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    By reading Mark's article, “Reparations Reconsidered: A Reminder” the main points become evident once she speaks of the “reparations” imposed by the allies on the Germans after Germany’s defeat in WW1. Mark’s begins her article with the discussion of a session in December of 1968 between the American Historical Association “AHA” . Professor Gerhard Weinberg, of the AHA says that “the entire history of German reparations needs to be restudied” (356). Throughout the post-war world, everyone was quite mesmerized by the 132 billion marks fee that was “brutally” imposed on the Germans, when in fact they weren’t asked to pay anything resembling that sum. Relevant documents and memoirs show that the Germans weren’t forced to pay the 132 billion marks that the public was tricked into believing.…

    • 453 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Dbq Treaty Of Versailles

    • 405 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In 1919, President Wilson joined delegates of Italy, France, England, and Japan in the Palace of Versailles to negotiate peace. When the conference was adjourned, the Treaty of Versailles had been created. However, the treaty was killed by Congress. It was not the strength of the opposing forces' argument, but rather the incompetence, rigidity, and obstinacy of President Wilson that lead to the Senate defeat of the Treaty of Versailles.…

    • 405 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The benefits of punishing Germany didn’t outweigh the drawbacks. During World War 1, Germany caused most of the damage to the Allied Powers. The Big Four which was US, England, France, and Italy made the treaty of Versailles to punish Germany. They wanted Germany to accept complete blame for the war. Therefore, Germany lost large amounts of land to the Allied nations and were forced to pay $33 billion for the damage they caused during World War 1. However, Germany wasn’t the only one that caused the casualties to the Allied Powers so they shouldn’t take all the blame.…

    • 555 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The treaty of Versailles is believed by historians to have angered the Germans but also left the big three unsatisfied at the outcome of the pact. Germany felt exceedingly cheated by the treaty. The Germans in the treaty had been blamed entirely for the war and had to pay compensation in the sum of 6, 600million pounds as well as limit there army to no more then 100,000 men to name a few . Through the treaty Germany had to lose much of its territory to its neighboring countries - as well as the demilitarization of the Rhineland to protect France.…

    • 893 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Dbq Treaty Of Versailles

    • 571 Words
    • 3 Pages

    GREAT DEBATE (1919-1920): Versailles Treaty and League of Nations. Should the United States ratify the Versailles Treaty and join the League of nations?…

    • 571 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles in which they admitted to be responsible for the war. This was article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles. This is in preparation for article 232 of the Treaty of Versailles, in which the Treaty of Versailles stated that Germany should pay reparations or compensation for the damage done to the allies.…

    • 484 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Everyone contributed for the damages in the country, it was not fair that one country has to pay for all damages. In Article 232, it states, “She will make compensation for all done to the civilian population of the Allied and Associated Power and to their property… ” (Document B). This means that Germany has to pay for all the persons who died and for all the property that was sabotage. Some people may say that it is fair because they believed that Germany was the one who started that war and caused more damaged than any other country. But every county knew that entering a war will attract an economic crisis.This proves that it is not justified because the countries all knew that they will have to be spending money before the war, during the war and after the war. In addition, making Germany pay for all the destruction will only make the situation more tense because Germany will be in an economic crisis and it would leave nothing resolve, Germany will be…

    • 559 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    I agree that the Treaty of Versailles had some good points but there were more wrong than right. The main weaknesses of the Treaty were; it was a dictated piece that Germany was forced to sign the treaty Germany thought this was unfair as anyone would. The choice was either to sign the treaty or go back to war, which Germany could not afford to do. Germany was forced to admit guilt for the war although they didn't feel it was entirely their fault. The Germans had to agree to a clause in the treaty, which declared that Germany itself had been guilty of violence and held solitary responsibility for the war and its losses. Germany had to pay US $32 billion in reparations for the war and the treaty imposed Germanys military strict restrictions. It was limited to 100 000 men with no aircraft, tanks or heavy guns and the Rhine River between Germany, France and Belgium was occupied by Allied troops and was permanently demilitarized. The impact of the treaty and under the terms of the territorial settlement Germany lost 7 million German-speaking citizens and territory, some to Poland, some to Czechoslovakia. The Polish Corridor also divided Germany into two. Germany had lost 12.5 percent of her territory, all her foreign investments and most of her merchant fleet.…

    • 521 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Initially, the Treaty of Versaille expected Germany to pay 5 billion dollars in reparations until a committee met in 1921, when 25 billion more were demanded. This economic drain on their economy most likely was the single largest factor in intensifying Germany's hostility toward Great Britain and France. This demand was totally unfeasible, for it would literally crush the German economy and starve the population.…

    • 520 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    [ 1 ]. Australian War Memorial. (n.d.). Encylcopedia: Treaty of Versailles. Retrieved September 20, 2011, from Australian War Memorial: http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/treaty_versailles.asp…

    • 2415 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Battle of Britain

    • 1617 Words
    • 7 Pages

    When Hitler decided to attack and try to take over Britain he did not expect the country to retaliate as it did. Not only did the military forces fight, the citizens fought. They spent their time making war products and growing food. They kept their spirits high for their country, because “Britain has never been taken over, and the people did not want it to ever happen.” The Britain’s wanted to stay free from Nazi control, and fought to keep their country free of it. People came by the hundreds signing up to be in the military so they could fight for Britain. Britain’s patriotism was at record highs for fear of the Nazi forces invading and taking over their beloved country, as Richard Hough said “when France joined in aiding Britain by sending planes and food, Britain’s moral shot up.” Germany had no way…

    • 1617 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Versailles Treaty

    • 989 Words
    • 4 Pages

    (DOC B) According to article 160 of the Versailles Treaty, the German Army must not comprise more than seven divisions of infantry and three divisions of cavalry by no later than March 31, 1920. After the passing of this date the total number of German military troops must not exceed one hundred thousand men, this total includes officers. Also, the total…

    • 989 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Berlin, March 7-Germany today cast off the last shackles fastened upon her by the Treaty of Versailles when Adolf Hitler, as commander-in-chief of the Reich defense forces, sent his new battalions into the Rhineland's demilitarized zone.... "After three years of ceaseless battle," Hitler concluded, "I look upon this day as marking the close of the struggle for…

    • 1454 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays